/PRNewswire/ - On World Water Day, Monday, March 22, charity: water will launch UNSHAKEN, a campaign to fund long-term water solutions for areas of greatest need in rural Haiti. charity: water is a non-profit bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations. The organization has been funding safe water and sanitation projects in Haiti for two years now, working with local implanting partners Concern Worldwide and Partners In Health. Both partners have more than two decades of experience working on the ground in Haiti.

Since the earthquake on Jan. 12, more than one million people have fled Port-au-Prince to the countryside, where they have minimal or no access to clean, safe water. One-third of the nation lacked access to safe water before the quake; now, the situation is devastating. As the rural communities continue to swell, so does the risk of deadly waterborne diseases. charity: water is committed to supporting long-term water and sanitation solutions in Haiti.

UNSHAKEN tells the stories of eleven areas that have swelled with those displaced since the earthquake and now need long-term water solutions more than ever. From eight-year-old Louis Mackenzie in Kenpech, who relies on a dwindling bottled water supply, to 17-year-old Kiesha Michele, who slept on the streets after her home was destroyed and now lives on an island with only stagnant ponds and unprotected springs "“ these stories are the basis of the UNSHAKEN campaign. Beginning Monday, each region's story, complete with photos and GPS coordinates, will be published on the UNSHAKEN campaign site. In the coming months, charity: water plans to raise $1.3 million to serve more than 40,000 people in these areas with clean, safe drinking water. 100% of the funds raised will directly fund water projects on the ground.

UNSHAKEN has drawn immense support before officially launching. The non-profit Invisible Children donated the first $100,000 to the campaign, which will provide 5,500 people with clean water. Retailer Urban Outfitters is selling a custom Haiti relief T-shirt, designed by eco-brand Apolis Activisim, to fund clean water for at least 1,500 people. This week, South by Southwest festival-goers have already donated thousands of dollars through various new mobile giving platforms.

Since 2006, New York-based charity: water has served more than one million people in 16 countries with clean, safe drinking water. For more information about charity: water and UNSHAKEN visit http://www.charitywater.org/unshaken.

Related Links:
UNSHAKEN: helping Haiti recover by providing long-term water solutions.
charity: water

charity: water

charity: water

More from charity: water